Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-05
ROBBED ON THE RAIL.
The Southern Pacific Overland Express
Stopped and Five Thousand
Dollar Haul Made.
The Masked Robbers Pay Attention to
the Mail and Express Valuables
Only.


the most audacious and successful train
robberies On record occurred yesterday
on the west-bound overland train or the
Southern Pacific railroad near Tucson,
Ariz. A special dispatch to the Evening
Bulletin this afternoon from Tucson
gives details of the affair as follows: The
western bound express due here at 1880
last evening was stopped, robbed at
Papago station eighteen miles east of
here about 9 o'clock last evening. The
number Of men engaged In the robbery
is varioasly estimated at from five to
eight. Col. Harper the engineer, when
approaching PapagO, side station, was
signaled by a red lantern to stop. He
slowed down and as he approached the
light he noticed distractions on the
track SO placed, that in case he failed to
stop the engine would spread the track
and derail itself. Immediately on stopp-
ing dozen or more shots were fired into
the express car, and man with a pistol
in each hand, boarded the locomotive and
commanded Harper not 10 get down.
The other robbers had in the meantime
been prying open the express car, and
failing to get it open they placed a stick
of giant powder under it, and ordered
Harper to light the fuse attached. To
avoid being blown up. the messenger
opened the car and the robbers took
possession. After extipguishing the fuse
they took charge of The car, uncoupled
the engine, baggage and express car
from the remainder of the train, and
made Harper get on the engine
and pull ahead two lengths. This
being done, Harper was again put
off, and the robbers took charge of the
engine and pulled six miles toward Tue
son. Here they ''killed" the engine and
left it. During the run the robbers went
through the mail and express cars but
did not get more than $4,000. They got
two packages of railroad money, one of
$1,210 and one of $500, and also two
packages OF postage stamps going to the
postoffice at San Francisco. It is report
ed that the express messenger threw 3d.
500 in gold into stove and so saved it
from the robbers.
PURSUIT OF THE ROBBERS.
Nothing was known here of the affair
until past midnight, when telegram was
received from Pantano, a brakeman hay
ing walked back eight miles to that place.
A special was sent down and the train
brought in at 6 this morning. None of
the passengers were molested. Some of
the passengers knew nothing of the
trouble until after their arrival here
Under Sheriff Shibell was early at the
scene of trouble but could discover moth
ing that would lead to the indemnity of
the robbers. Ten trailcrs, under Duputy
Sheriff M. f. Shaw, have left for the scene
of the trouble. The robber are be lived
to be discharged railroad employees, al
though they compelled Engineer Harper
to show them how to handle the locomo-
tive. It is believed by their actions in
handling the train that they were familiar
with such work.
Immediately upon the receipt of the
news at the office of the Southern Pacific
company in this city, Mr.. A. n. Towe,
general manager, issued the following
circular with orders to the company's
agents to post in cons picuous places:
"The mail and express cars on our west !
bound express train when at point |
seventeen miles east of Tuczon, Arizona
territory, at 10 O'Clock last night, was |
stopped and robbed by four Or five men.
The Southern Pacific Railroad company |
hereby offers a reward of 81 900 each, for |
tbs arrest and conviction of the robbers, |
which is in addition to a like reward |
offered by the Wells, Fargo Express Co.
In addition to this we understand the |
United States PostOffice department has |
a standing reward of 5000 each for the |
arrest and conviction of persons who en-
gage in robbing the mails
FIVE SHOTS FIRED.
From information received by him,
General Manager Towine said this after |
noon, in reference to the affair: "There |
were five shots fired into the express car |
4ho hol -
stop. When the train came to stand |
still the engineer and fremon were order
ed to get off the engine, which they did.
Then they were each given a stick of |
giant powder and told that they must |
compel the mail agents and express mes
senger to open the car or the robbers |
would, with revolvers, compel them to
light the dynamite to destroy the car. |
Under these threats the express messen- !
ger and mail agents abandoned their car.
The robbers then unc oupled the locomo-
tive, express and mail cars from the train,
and got on the engine and ran down the
track two miles. There they stopped
and took all the money they could find.
The money obtained from Wells, Fargo
& Co., was about $4,000. No passengers
molested. The robbers did not enter
the passenger car. When the robbers went
up on the locomotive, which they appear
ed to be able to run, they left the engine
er and fireman standing beside the track.
The engineer and fireman followed the
course taken and took the locomotive
and cars back to the train and proceeded
westward. No one was injured, and I
have not yet heard as to whether the mail
was rihed."
Additional facts were received concern
ing the robbery in dispatches to Wells, Far
go j. Co. They were to the effect that
the train was held up three miles east of
Papago in cut. The mail was robbed
as well as the express. When the news
was carried back to Pantano concerning
the robbery United States Marshal Mead
and deputy with two deputy -sheriffs and
two others started after the train. The
locomotive and cars were found at the
whistling post about one mile west OF Pa
page. The engine was "dead-" The
headlight was put out and air brakes put
on. There was no trace of the robbers.
Marshal Mead sent for troops to Fort
Lowell, and thirtY-fve soldiers left there
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